By ELLIOTT DONNER

Staff Writer

After Homecoming, Leisure Lanes Bowling Alley on Arizona Avenue was taped off and made ready to be demolished.

Tech is now in the process of cleaning the mess, clearing and flattening the land to make a new gravel lot.

"This is a continuance of the university acquiring more land for student parking and campus development," Sam Wallace, director of support services, said.

Wallace said since 1984, when he graduated from Tech, the parking situation has improved greatly.

Patrice Johnson, a graduate student of English, said the additional parking will be great for a lot of students.

Johnson said the bowling alley lot will make an extension of the Texas Street lot and will help with the overcrowding of cars in the lot.

Tech Police Chief Stephen Quinnelly said when he drives around campus he notices a trend for parking.

He said prime-time parking is from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Prime times are when the parking lots are the most crowded.

"When you drive around Tech past these prime times, you will see three quarters of the parking lots half full," Quinnelly said.

Quinnelly said at other universities parking garages have been built for student parking and bus services are available.

Quinnelly said at Tech, land costs prohibit garages from being built, and buses are also out of the question.

In the past two years, Tech has helped students park closer to campus, Quinnelly said.

He also said behind University Park Apartments there is a proposed 150-200 space lot.

There have also been three gravel lots added on Everett Street and W. Mississippi Avenue, Quinnelly said.

Right now Tech is exploring making a new lot between James Street and Western Street.

Lee Cline, a sophomore general studies major, said since he has been here the parking has improved a great deal.

"I always try to park in the Texas Street lot, but it is always crowded," Cline said.

Cline said the new lot will be beneficial to all students, because it will open up spots are closer to campus.